Since mid May 2022, State Administration Council(SAC) send more of its troops to Karenni State , southeast Myanmar to control the high-way between capital Loikaw and Maw Chi but their troops were being ambushed by a combined force of Karenni resistance arm groups.
More than 30 military regime soldiers were killed and seven military trucks were destroyed by Karenni combined forces so-called Karenni National Defense Force(KNDF) and Karenni Army(KA) between May 30 and Jun 3, 2022. The Karenni combined forces seized two trucks, anti-drone jammers and weapons.
40 military trucks carrying about 200 military regime troops heading to Loikaw from Baw Lakhe. After repeated ambushed by Karenni combined forces, the regime forces left 33 trucks and currently facing difficulties to reach to the capital Loikaw.
“ The military regime's troops from No. 66 division have many convictions in Karenni State wherever they go we will fight them. We will try our best. No one from No. 66 division to escape from Karenni” sadi Ko Hthite, a central committee of KNDF.
On Jun 2 and 3, junta forces used a fighter jet attacking KNDF and KA for helping the 40 trucks to escape.
Between May to the first week of June, about 40 of the military regime trucks were destroyed by KNDF.
‘KNDF and KA have captured some of the regime trucks. Among them four trucks are able to be used. About 30 to 40 of regime truck were being burn and destroyed.” Said Ko Hthite.
Before the coup, the regime forces controlled the main road between Loikaw and Mawchi but today no one know who control these roads, said Khu Danial deputy minister of Karenni Defend Ministry.
He said “When the fighting has started in the state, KNDF and KA deploy its troops to control the road between Loikaw-Mawchi. They(the military regime) want it back so sending more troops to the areas. Now they are on the road but couldn’t say they can control. The fighting happens every day and I can't say exactly who is controlling the road”.
On June 15, the regime forces set fire to the Daw Ngay Khu village including a Catholic church in Deemaw Hso Township, Karenni State. Eight churches had been damaged or destroyed by the regime in Karenni and southern Shan States according to Karenni religious leaders.
The regime forces often burned down the civilians' homes and churches to drive out resistance forces from KNDF and KA.
According to KNDF document, about 150 of regime forces have been killing in Karenni State in May and June fighting.
“We would like to inform family members from 66 division(Light Infantry Division 66) that to let their relatives in the division to do CDM otherwise they can not be return home. They are being ambushed and killed everyday now.” Said Ko Htite.
According to Tagaung Institute of Political Studies and the US-based Wilson Center, there are more than 20,000 resistance fighters in Karenni State.
